Samba case: 5 Army jawans face dismissal

New Delhi: Five Army jawans face sack orders while other actions have been recommended by a Court of Inquiry (CoI) against 55 other personnel including the Commanding Officer of a unit in a case of indiscipline in Samba in Jammu and Kashmir last year.

The case relates to an incident in the 16 Cavalry Unit in Samba last year where officers and jawans were engaged in a face-off after a jawan committed suicide on August 8.

The CoI into the Samba indiscipline incident has been completed in which five jawans have been recommended for "administrative termination of service". Under this, the Army personnel can be dismissed from service with immediate effect without facing court martial, Army sources said here.

The recommendations of the CoI have to be considered and confirmed by higher authorities.

The CoI held under a Brigadier has also recommended disciplinary action against seven other personnel including four Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and three jawans. Under disciplinary action, personnel have to face court martial.

Administrative action has been recommended against nine personnel including the Commanding Officer, three other officers and five jawans of the unit, they said.

Administrative action under the Army act ranges from severe displeasure to censure.

The CoI has also recommended that 39 jawans be posted out the unit permanently for their role in the whole episode.

The incident had happened after a jawan of the unit Arun V, hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, committed suicide with his service weapon.

The jawan was allegedly facing some issues back home and had asked for leave, which was denied by officers. After his death, the jawan`s fellow soldiers protested against the officers and surrounded their residences.

After tension erupted in the unit, additional troops had to be rushed to the area to prevent any further escalation.